Tipp duo selected in Munster Ladies Rugby squad
By Thomas Conway
Two Tipperary natives will feature in the Munster squad for the upcoming Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.
New Head Coach Matt Brown has announced a 34 player squad, which includes North Tipperary duo Maeve Óg Ó’Leary and Caitriona Finn, both of whom have experience at provincial and international level.
O’Leary is among the most high-calibre names on this Munster roster. The 25-year-old forward, who can play in a variety of positions across the back row but is usually positioned as a flanker, is returning from a sustained break due to a knee injury.
A graduate of the Munster academy system, she made both her Munster and Ireland senior debuts in 2021 and was an integral part of the Munster squad that won the interprovincial championship in both 2022 and 2023. She was subsequently selected to represent Ireland at the inaugural WXV Championships in Dubai in 2023, but her career since has been hampered by injury.
She made her return to action for her club Blackrock College in March of this year, following a long rehabilitation period. O’Leary studied Communications in DCU, and it was during that time that she started playing with south Dublin outfit, under the tutelage of current Scotland women’s head coach Philip Doyle.
She began her career with Ballina/Killaloe RFC and was instrumental in introducing women's rugby to her secondary school, St. Anne’s Community College Killaloe. During her teens she also represented Tipperary in camogie, and Ireland in softball.
Garrykennedy native Caitriona Finn only turned 19 in June, but is also an accomplished performer in red and green.
The out-half/centre has risen through the Munster academy system in recent years, having begun her career with Ballina/Killaloe and subsequently joined Nenagh Ormond. In 2024, she captained the Irish women’s under-18 sevens team before achieving selection for the Munster seniors in last year’s interpros. This spring, she was part of Ireland coach Scott Bemand’s extended squad for the Guinness Six Nations. Ireland would finish third in that campaign, recording wins over Italy and Wales.
Munster has named fifteen uncapped players in his squad for the matches against Connacht, Leinster and Ulster. Head Coach Brown resumes his tenure as Munster women’s coach following a four year hiatus. He previously served in the role in 2021, when he led Munster to success in the competition.
Munster will kick off their campaign against Connacht in Virgin Media Park, Cork, on Sunday, August 10th at 4:15pm, a game that will be broadcast on TG4. Six days later, on Saturday, August 16th, they will take on Leinster at Energia Park, Donnybrook at 2:30pm. Their final outing, against Ulster, will take place in Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, at 4:15pm on Saturday, 23rd August. The finals day, which will be staged in Donnybrook, is scheduled for Saturday, August 30th.